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MySpace help


Using MySpace

Summary

MySpace is a VO storage area for user data. Workflows and tools can write or retrieve files to (or from) MySpace. This lets long-running processes work even when you are off-line. You can transfer data between MySpace and interactive packages like TopCat, or upload/dowload files from/to your desktop. You can store any data format which can be transfered over the internet (such as plain text, configuration files, VOTables, FITS images etc.).

You must have an AstroGrid Workbench account to use MySpace

Launching MySpace

The MySpace browser is launched from the System Services tab on the AstroGrid Workbench

Right-click on any image to open it full-size in a new window

MSnewfile.png

You will be asked for your Astrogrid login details, unless you are already logged in. A MySpace browser also starts automatically if you are using a tool which involves selecting a MySpace destination for the output directory or file. Such versions of the browser do not allow you to view or download files. 

MySpace overview

You should see your home folder (directory) under a series of icons. These have self-explanatory tool-tips but some points worth noting are:

  • To create a new file for the output of an AstroGrid task, first select a folder (e.g. MERLIN in the example above), click on the leftmost tool icon and enter a name for the output file. See the notes below for allowed characters. You can also select an existing file name if you want to overwrite it.
  • Clicking on the 'double arrow' icon refreshes MySpace
  • Files uploaded to MySpace should be in the required format, e.g. VOTable or FITS or the correct format for configuration files for other tools like SExtractor. You cannot directly edit files in MySpace. However, in some cases files can be sent to a tool for format conversion (e.g. using STILTS to convert IPAC format to VOTable).
  • If you are referring to a file in a tool (e.g. the Query Builder or the MERLINImager), the entire path starting ivo://... must be given (see below); this is automatically filled in if you click on Ref? and select a file or create a new file using the MySpace browser which that particular task launches.
MStaskoutput.png

Viewing/processing MySpace files

The Information window summarises the size and date of files. If a file is being written, make sure that it is finished (e.g. see the Lookout or check that it has stopped increasing in size). You can pass MySpace files to any tool accessible using the Workbench or PLASTIC. Viewers are listed on the PLASTIC page and the Helper Applications tab of the Workbench; if you want to use one of these e.g. TopCat you must launch it while the Workbench is running. To access a MySpace file interactively, right-click on the file name and that will show you the available options for that file type and the applications you have running. The 'spectacles' icon at the top also provides these options. 'View in Browser' is useful for plain text files and also is a way to check if a small VOTable is valid or if it contains an error message.


MSsave.png

Uploading/downloading files between MySpace and your desktop

The icon to the right of the spectacles on the top row allows you to upload a file from a URL or from your workstation or laptop. You can download files by clicking on the spectacles or right-clicking on the file name and selecting Save. Use the dialogue box to navigate to the destination directory, insert the output file name and hit return - the entire destination path (as shown below) must appear at the bottom of the window before you press OK.


MSlocalsave.png

Allowed characters

Directory and file names must not contain characters such as @, <, > or spaces, these will be replaced by the underscore. Allowed characters are

  • letters a-z A-Z

  • digits 0-9

  • other characters . - _ :

Even the permitted nonalphanumeric characters should be used with care as in some situations e.g. inside scripts the - might be misinterpreted as a minus sign and punctuation like : sometimes has special meaning.

MySpace and workflow/query builder output

Some workflows (e.g. the Redshift Maker) create subdirectories automatically to store their output or intermediate files. Check the instructions for each tool if you may have existing files which could be overwritten if that is not what you want. If you save a Workflow or a Query to MySpace, it is stored as xml, which is designed to be edited via the GUIs provided by the Workbench, but you can download and edit the files using an xml editor if you really want (taking care to validate anything which is to be re-uploaded).

Author: Anita Richards
Last revised : 5 November 2006